International standards: United States construction industry competitiveness

This document addresses those issues related to the development and implementation of international standards that may impact the U.S. construction industry in the near future. It discusses the drivers for development of international standards, how industries in other countries are using standards to promote their competitiveness in an increasingly global economy, how they work with their respective governments to develop standards, how the U.S. construction industry is lagging behind in standards development, and the potential cost for this limited involvement. The ISO 9000 series of standards are also discussed since they are part of the immediate concern over the development of international standards. The results section contains data obtained from a survey of 138 different organizations related to the construction industry. A questionnaire was used to gather information on the development of international standards, competitiveness issues, awareness of international standards, the importance of international standards, use of standards, and the importance and use of the ISO 9000 series of standards. The ramifications of the results of the survey are also discussed and statistically analyzed. Instead of continuing to use many of the U.S. standards that have been used in the past, other countries are now adopting ISO standards. This puts pressure on members of U.S. firms to be more involved with the development of ISO standards if they are to remain competitive in the global market place. Although there are many different standards, and standards setting organizations, involved in the development and implementation of international standards, there is little direct participation by members of firms from the U.S. construction industry except through private participation in trade, technical, and professional organizations. This document contains a concise summary of the processes required to develop and implement international standards and also explains the consequences of not being directly involved in standards development. This information will assist firms from the U.S. construction industry in determining their desired level of involvement in international standards activities in order to enhance their competitiveness in the international arena.